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(No Modei.)

MSW-Hmmm. GAS RETORT.

No. 449,142. Patented Mar. 31, 1891i lli l.

114: Home PzY'sns co., mono-urne., v/Asnmmuu, n. c,

' duced.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER M. SUTHERLAND, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

GAS-RETORT. ,y

SPECFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,142, dated March 31, 1891.

Application filed August 9, 1889.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER M. SUTHER- LAND, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident ot' New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gas-Retorts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of gas.

The object of the invention is to producea retort of such construction that byv its use hydrocarbons may be transformed into a fixed gas without carbonizing or burning any appreciable portions of them.

Vith this object in view the invention consists in a retort having a main inlet or receiving tube, a commingling-chamber, and a series of tubes of any desired size, preferably smaller in diameter than that of the inlettube, connected with the commingling-chamber and designed to convey the hydrocarbons back to a stand-pipel or outlet, through which the gas is conveyed to a gasometer or the like.

I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a perspective view of my improved retort. Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof, showing the spiral rib for causing the hydrocarbons passing through the tubes to impinge against the sides of the tubes; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the rear of the retort, showing the commingling-chamber. v

In the drawings, A represents the exterior of the retort, which is preferably of fire-clay enameled inside and outside.

At a suitable place in the retort, preferably near the bottom, is an inlet-tube B, through which hydrocarbons to be converted are intro- The inlet-tube leads through the retort to the rear thereof, where it communi- Cates with the commingling-chamber C. The rear face of this chamber is formed by the removable plate D. which allows access to the rear ends of the tubes for the purpose of removing or cleaning or for removing any obstruction therefrom when desired. rlhe stock after being carried into the comminglinglike.

Serial No. 320,290. (No model.)

The tubes E, through which the gas is cari ried from the commingling-chamber to the front of the retort, are preferably, though not necessarily, of a smaller diameter than those of the inlet-tube.

In gas-making apparatus as generally constructed the hydrocarbons employed are subjected to excessive heat in retorts during the process of iixing, resulting in the burning and destruction of a large portion of the carbonaccous substances contained. In my improved retort I avoid this difficulty and produce a xed gas by causing the stock to impinge against a maximum amount of surface heated to a moderate temperature. To accomplish this, I provide each of the tubes through which the gas is passed in the fixing process with an internal'spiral rib' F of such construction that as the gas passes through the tubes it is continually revolved and dashed against the sides of the tubes, resulting in the thorough decomposition of the hydrocarbon and insuring its contact with the maximum amount of fixing-surface. The spiral rib is preferably twisted throughout its entire length in a uniform direct-ion.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isM

l. In an apparatus for manufacturing gas,

lthe retort consisting of an inlet-tube, a commingling-chamber, and two or more outlettubes arranged substantially parallel with the inlet-tube, whereby the vapor is introduced through the inlet-pipe, commingled in a chamber, and returned through a number of pipes, and therebybrought into contact with a large amount of surface to insure fixing, substantially as described.

2. In apparatus for manufacturing gas, the retort consisting of the inlet-pipe, the cornmingling-chamber, and the outlet-tubes arranged substantially parallel with the inlettube and smaller in diameter than the inlettube, all the tubes having spiral ribs placed therein, substantially as described.

3. In apparatus for manufacturing gas, the retort consisting of the inlet-tube, the commin glin g-chamber, the outlet-tubes of smaller diameter than the inlet-tube and' arranged substantially parallel with the inlet-tube, and spiral ribs having a continuous twist through- ICO out placed in the tubes, substantially as de- In testimony' that I claim the foregoing as ro scribed. my invention I have signed my naine in pres- I. In apparatus for the manufacture of gas, ence of two Witnesses this 30th day of July, the retort consisting, of the inlet-tube, the com- 1889. 5 minglingeliamber havingthe removable end, 1 f j Y. I f. Y 1 1 and the retur11tubes of smaller diameter AMXA DLR M' SUI HBRLAB D' than the inlet-tube and arranged substan- Witnesses: tially parallel with the inlet-tube, substan- R. G. DYRENFORTH, tially as described. DAVID I'I. MEAD. 

